Release Date: January 23, 2013
Track Listing
- Promise You
- Hanamizuki
- Promise You (Instrumental)
Review
Super Junior K.R.Y. is the first sub-group formed from SM Entertainment’s popular boy band Super Junior. Consisting of Yesung, Ryeowook and Kyuhyun, the group made their official Japanese debut in early 2013 with this single, Promise You.
One would expect a K-Pop subgroup to get something close to what their parent group was releasing at the time in their home country. Luckily that was not the case with this group, as they were given an R&B/Pop ballad.
Sure this might be rather a sappy J-Pop balladry appealing to the heartstrings of Hallyu crossover lovers, but it’s a very well-done sap that certainly makes an immediate impact and leaves a lasting impression. Given the fleeting nature of Hallyu imports, that’s pretty damn good.
No recycling of old Super Junior songs here, as it appears that SM/AVEX is giving the group the best possible chance at capturing the Japanese market.
The a-side is a brilliant piece of panty-wetting lover-man exposition. So what about the b-side? Well, it ain’t so bad, either. Hanamizuki may run along the safer and perhaps blander ballad territory, but it’s worth giving a quick run-through at the very least.
In the end, Promise You can be considered a strong Japanese debut. Again, there seems to be an attempt to try original material instead of returning to the well of old songs, so that effort should be applauded.
It’s a shame they haven’t followed up with anything since. I think they can compete with the dozens of male EXILE family groups that release similar music easily. Hopefully, there will be more to come from them in Japan. It would be a waste to just let them have a one-off.
